In Georgia, court fines three persons detained on protest actions

On December 17, participants of protests in front of the Georgian parliament building were fined for petty hooliganism and rendering resistance to the police, while the fourth detainee was acquitted by the court. The activists expressed their indignation about large amounts of fines.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 12, Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the "New Georgia" Party, and 11 other protesters were brought to a police station, they were suspected of hooliganism and rendering resistance to the police. The activists gathered in front of the parliament building. They demanded not to approve candidates for judges of the Supreme Court (SC) of Georgia and retain the powers of opposition MP Nika Meliya.

On December 17, the Tbilisi City Court fined three detainees 1500-2000 laris. The Court acquitted the fourth protestor for the lack of sufficient evidence. Meanwhile, the Court has not yet pronounced a decision concerning the remaining eight protestors detained at the rally held on December 12, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

David Kakauridze, one of the fined activists, said that the judge's decision was "ridiculous." The protestor also added that he did not violate the law. "Of course, we will challenge the Tbilisi City Court's decision at the court of appeal, although we do not hope for a positive result," David Kakauridze said on the air of the Georgian "Rustavi-2" TV Company.

Levan Gakheladze, who was acquitted by the court' decision, expressed his indignation about the amount of fines imposed on other defendants. "I do not understand why the judge imposes such high fines on the young people and how they will pay those fines," said Levan Gakheladze on the air of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company as translated from Georgian by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 18, 2019 at 03:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.